Review by Ben ConnollyThere was already a significant amount of water flowing under the bridge by the time Flemington’s famous iron gates were flung open for this year’s Melbourne chapter of the Big Day Out. With ownership wrangling continuing into a second year, a buy-out by one of Australian music’s most polarising characters, a line-up to end all line-ups only to be tarnished late in the day by the pull out of Blur, and now speculation that the national festival will once again be curtailed by Perth’s inability to get its shit together as a cultural collective. In some ways, 11am on the Friday before the long weekend was a welcomed event, if only to end the continual news feed of the daily life of Australia’s biggest orgy of rock.Continue reading Live Review: Big Day Out 2014 – Melbourne→

Iconic Brisbane music venue RIC’S is proud to present their inaugural BIG BACKYARD FESTIVAL. Utilizing the courtyard behind RG’s and the upstairs and downstairs stages at RIC’S, the BIG BACKYARD is a brilliant space sure to create an intimate and unique festival experience.

VIOLENT SOHO had a huge 2010. They moved to Brooklyn and signed to Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label touring the US with Dinosaur Jr and The Bronx. They’re home and they are sure to smash it in our Big Backyard.

It’s an almost shameful admission, but I just didn’t get into The Drones. I don’t know why; their mix of growling guitars, flat-tonal Australian vocals and aggressive, charged lyrics ticked all the boxes for qualities I generally seek out in bands to obsess over. I guess by the time I’d cottoned on to their charms, however, the boat had well and truly sailed and was now somewhat overburdened by eager fan-boys keen to wring the band’s name out for as much street cred as possible. Truth be told, the fan-boy’s fervour (and the self-assured scoff of the object of their adoration) scared me just a little. That said, The Drones’cover of Kevin Carmody’s River Of Tears at

Great songs live forever. Whether you write ’em, sing ’em, or just love the stories they tell and the way they make you feel, make no mistake – the great ones will survive the blessed lot of us. Maurice Frawley left scores behind when he departed this world, after a short fight with cancer, in May 2009. To some folks – Paul Kelly, Charlie Owen, Tex Perkins, Tim Rogers, Mick Thomas and Don Walker for instance – plenty were already classics.

Having seen a need for a camping and music festival easily accessible to the music fans of Brisbane, the team behind Sounds Of Spring planned The Lost Weekend which was to be involve three days of camping and music situated less than an hour from Brisbane’s CBD.

Unfortunately issues beyond the promoter’s control have made running the event in the way that they envisaged impossible, and have forced the inaugural The Lost Weekend to be moved to the picturesque Brisbane Riverstage and Botanical Gardens.

The festival will no longer be a camping event and will now be held on Saturday March 6 and Sunday March 7, with the same diverse and exciting selection of international, interstate and local acts performing over three stages between 10am and 10pm on both days, still making it the perfect end to the festival season.Continue reading The Lost Weekend Festival – Change of Venue→

Author: Elize Strydom
Imagine a festival on the set of Dirty Dancing. Or the Shining. Or a combination of both. Imagine a festival where there is no branding or on-site sponsorships. Where the crowd only reaches 3000 people, max and you don’t have to line up for hours and purchase a beer with a drink ticket. Where there are no VIP areas or back stage hangs and the artists mix it up with the punters. Where all shows are indoors and the weather doesn’t matter. Add to that sets from three Australian bands (The Drones, The Dirty Three and Bridezilla) as well as Animal Collective, The Jesus Lizard, Sufjan Stevens, Suicide, Deerhunter and the Feelies. It’s not a dream, it’s All Tomorrow’s Parties New York. Elize Strydom and a bunch of other Aussies managed to score cheap flights and experience the magic.

West Australian five piece THE KILL DEVIL HILLS announce the imminent release of their third album, MAN, YOU SHOULD EXPLODE.

The multi award- winning group has spent the best part of 2009 completing their new album with producer Burke Reid (The Drones, Jack Ladder, The Mess Hall), to be released nationally in September 2009.

Sadly that was a common response when I mentioned tonight’s gig to friends. Sadly, it was my initial response, too. However, I’ve been told that that is what the show is all about: taking one of Australia’s finest songwriters and exposing his talents to a whole new audience. Kev Carmody has been singing about the realities of Aboriginal society for the past 24 years through blunt protest songs and poetic ballads; blending folk, country, rock and gospel. In 2007 Paul Kelly pulled together the who’s who of the Australian music scene and an album was released featuring those singer songwriters performing Kev’s songs. Tonight those artists – including Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning, Missy Higgins, John Butler, Clare Bowditch, the Herd and the Drones – will take to the stage to honour a man who is very much alive and passionate about his people and his country.Continue reading Live Review | Kev Carmody “Cannot Buy My Soul” Landmark Australian Music Event @ Brisbane Riverstage 1 August 2009→

Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning, John Butler, Missy Higgins, Clare Bowditch, Tex Perkins, The Herd, The Drones and many, many more join forces in a special twilight concert at Brisbane Riverstage to celebrate a unique Australian talent.

Powerful, versatile and utterly original, for the past 24 years legendary singer songwriter Kev Carmody has evoked the realities of contemporary Aboriginal society with a clarity and grace that has won him fans across Australia and around the world.

This signature Queensland Music Festival event sees Carmody’s repertoire – from blunt protest songs to poetic ballads – reinterpreted by a thrilling line-up of Australia’s most acclaimed singer songwriters and musicians who contributed to the 2007 album Cannot Buy My Soul, produced by long-time friend and collaborator Paul Kelly.

RIPE NOOSA 09 – will be showcasing the cream of Australian musical talent; Eskimo Joe – Faker – The Potbelleez – Bliss n Eso – Blue King Brown – The Drones – Pez – Dead Letter Circus plus some of this countries biggest DJ acts who are all set to bring the Sunshine Coast alive on Sunday May 3rd, Labour Day Long Weekend.
RIPE NOOSA is best described as a joyful collision of rock, hip hop, melodic pop, roots reggae, and electronic dance, set across 2 stages. The day will include a myriad of festival experiences and activity including an international food bazaar, health and wellbeing centre, arts and market stalls and a children’s activity area. The event encapsulates contemporary music, festival colour and excitement that will captivate fun lovers of all ages.

Situated just 10 minutes from Noosa’s main beaches and set on 156 acres of prize hinterland landscape, it is the perfect backdrop for a rocking all ages annual one day event.

Events Details:

WHEN:
Date Time Information
03 May 09 12:00pm to 10:00pm Open Sunday noon until 2200.

WHERE:
Venue: House with No Steps
Fellowship Drive
House with no Steps
Doonan,Noosa Valley
Queensland, Australia
4562